Team India’s vice-captain, Axar Patel, has disclosed that the management has opted for a flexible middle order in the forthcoming T20I series against England. Over the past year, India has embraced a fearless style of play, successfully navigating the transition following the retirements of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. Under the guidance of Suryakumar Yadav, the team has flourished, with promising talents such as Tilak Varma and Nitish Kumar Reddy making notable contributions alongside seasoned players like Sanju Samson, Rinku Singh, and Hardik Pandya.

Additionally, head coach Gautam Gambhir has emphasized the significance of including all-rounders in the team composition.

In a press conference prior to the series opener against England on Wednesday, Patel, who is also a spin bowling all-rounder, stated that only openers Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma are assured of fixed batting positions.

"The openers are set, but players batting from numbers three to seven have been informed that they may bat at any time, depending on the situation," Patel remarked.

"Our middle order will be determined by the match context, the type of bowlers in play, and the optimal match-ups."

"We have discussed the concept of being adaptable, whether it involves coming in early or finishing the innings."

"In T20 Internationals, the strategic deployment of batters is critical, making this a vital aspect of our batting approach."

In the previous T20I series against South Africa, Surya and Gambhir made a daring choice to elevate Tilak Varma to the number three position in the batting order, a decision that proved highly effective. The left-handed batter from Mumbai Indians scored two centuries on South African soil, demonstrating his exceptional batting abilities.

Besides Tilak, players such as Hardik Pandya, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Washington Sundar, and Rinku Singh have frequently experienced changes in their batting positions in India's recent matches.

‘World Cup is coming up in a year so…’

India's primary focus is on the upcoming Champions Trophy, yet Axar has indicated that preparations for their title defence at next year's T20 World Cup, which they will co-host with Sri Lanka, are already underway. 

"The World Cup is approaching in a year, so we aim to start our preparations now. That is our main objective," Axar stated.

Currently, India is missing their leading fast bowler, Jasprit Bumrah, in the match against England. The team is optimistic that Mohammed Shami, who returns after a year-long absence due to an ankle injury, will make a significant impact.

Read Also: "The Power of Numbers: Axar's Hope for a Winning Formula"

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